Ditching machine



May 15', 1923.

J. H. JoHNsoN ISITCHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jun@` 14, 1922 @ami` 34 tvc/i1 to: l

Grammy vMay 15, 1923.

J'. H. JOHNSON DITCHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Seet 5 Filed June 14, 1922 @JMW WIN

May l5, T923.,

1,455,494 -J. H. JoHNsoN DITCHIHG MACHINE Filed June 14 1922 4 Sheets-Smet 4 faQ/z @A /f '#4 05a 4a 4/ 48 vzo Patented May 15,1923.

f UNITED Sfm'wf,I f

oUTH CAROLINA, Assi'cfnois` or oNEiFoRTHf- To HARLiis'ioN, soU'iH'cARo'LiNA. 1

JOHN H. JOHNSON, OF CHARLESTON, S THOMAS MARKS, OF C Application filed June 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

W 1,455,49rw

Di'rcnine: MACHINE.

Be it knownthat LJOHN H. Joiaitrson7 a citizen of the'United States of America, re

siding at Charleston,

in the county of Charleston and State of, South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Ditching Machines,

the lfollowing is a specicatio kThe present invention ments in ditching machines' cially for use 'in connection` for plowing or excaried by aV railroad car, vating ditches alongside the roadbed.

The primary object of provision. of a strong,` manipulated ditching from therailroad car,

of which relates to improvedesigned espe with and cartracks of the the invention is the durable, and easily apparatus supported and which .may with facility beadjusted to various positions with relation to the track and road bed for exca vating or plowing alongside the track. The

equipment of the invention is utilized in connectionv with standard flat cars, and the car ofV the work train carrying` the plowing apparatus is pulled by a locomotive. When not required for use, transit, or to permit or while the car -is in n passage of trains on another track, the ditching equipment may be-folded onto its car in position withinr the required limits of space for railway traffic.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and claimed.

In the accomp plete example of the physio of the invention is illustrate anying drawings one coinal embodiment d, wherein lthe parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles -of the invention.

Figure l is a side ,view in elevation showing a railway flat car equipped with the ditching machine of the invention, and illustrating the use of three plows at the side of the car, together with a conveyer and cai' loader on a rear car, in dotted lines.

the latter being shown Figure Q is a top plan view of the'equipnient. of Fig. 1 illustrating frame at one sideof the car, carried thereby.

a hinged plow and two` plowsA serial` No. 568,102;

Figure Biis an enlarged endiview showingV the body of the car with two hingedplow i `frames, one in working position: and" thev other in folded position as when notv in use.l

Figure 4 vis a detail sectionaliviewat line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Figure is a detail sectional viewfatlinef portingthe hinged plow frame in workingV I y position. s s y rFigure 7 isa detail-sectional'view showing, a plow` frame or'bracket-holder.forthe plow/- in itsrelation to the side or hinged firamev for vertically: adj ustingthe i plowy and means beam.

' Figui-e Sis a perspective view of a casting forming the bracket-holder for the plow` used in connection with the plow frame.. Y

Figure 9 is a detail view of one ofthe-` plowbeams illustrated for use iny Ffigure4,y for supporting a plow in horizontal-:position when making lateral cuts or'plowingf-in a band at the side of theI track.

Figures l0,` views showing an elevation, an edge view, and a sectional view (at line112-1'2 Figure lOrlof a front plow attachment for the.;car..`

.ie especiallyy adaptedfor use in standard types offlat cars, one of which isI illustrated in the drawings and providedv1 with stringers 1,. of I-beams, i and the usual iwheelsor trucksy 3.v

In adapting the flatca'r for use with the: `present equipment, a number of channel plates, as 4, are attached, as by, rivets,.beneatli the car'zbody, preferably. at the center thereof, and extending longitudinally of: the' are designed to accornmo-r f 11, and 1 2I respectively areff ditching equipment ofthe invention is f connection with v of the car about midway i rectangular inshapeT v the car deck-2 of metal if desired; As. c

shown in tliedrawings the rectangular plow I frames are fashioned with wood inner andI outer bars 7 and 8 respectively, extending longitudinally of the car, front and rear end bars 9 extending transversely of the car, and diagonal braces 9, to form a rigid and well braced plow frame at each side of the car.

The plow frames are designed to be supported in horizontal position and project laterally of the car when in use, but when not to be used they may be folded up on hinges l0 whichv connect the plow frame with suitable portions of the car frame. At ll, four knotches or recesses are provided in theV deck of the car, two at each side, to accommodate ythe front and rear end beams of the lplow frame when the latter is folded over the car, as indicated in Figure 3.

In extended position, the plow frame is stayed or braced at front and rear by the use of brace rods l2, each provided with a turnbuckle 13 for adjusting the length of the rod, and connected as by pins with eye `"ners of the ysupported from the masts sol plates orA eye-mats 11i bolted to the plow frame and the car frame respectively. s

At the front and rear ends, the inner corplow frame are each supported in a supporting bracket l5 which is riveted to the side plate 4: on its exterior face, and the brackets are each fastened with an angular socket or hanger to receive and support ythe corner of the plow frame when extended.

For raising and lowering the hinged plow frames or hinged wings of the car, means are provided on the deck of the car, and may include bases or sockets 16 and 17 for the respective masts 18 and 19. These masts are of suitable Vconstruction and spaced at convenient positions along the center line of the car deck in order that connections may be made to eye-bolts 2O or other' fastening devices on the outer sides of the plow frames.' The cables 21 are provided with the usual hoisting tackle and devices and that by their connection with the eye bolts 20, the cables maybe wound or unwound on the winches designated by` the vnumeral 22. rIhese Winches may be manually operated or operated bypower from a suitable source, and

v"when actuated are designed to raise or permit the lowering of the plow frames in well known manner. f

After being lowered to extended position, with their inner edges supported in the angular brackets l5, the brace rods 12 are coupled between the plow frame and car frame, and the cables 2l from the masts to the outer edges of the plow frames, all assist in holding the plow frame in rigid position.

The plow frames are designed to -support oneor more plow beams as 23 and 24, either f of which may be used singly, or both of which may be used to cut or plow on paral- The plows 25 and 26 lel lines if desired.

therefor in the inner on the lower ends of the respective beams 23 and 2-1 may be of any standard or desired type and may vary according to the purpose or nature of the ditching operations.

vTheplow beams, and especially the beam 23, are suspended perpendicularly from the plow frames or side wings of the car, with the plows at the lower ends of these perpendicular beams in operative position with relation to the ground level. For this purpose cast lmetal y'bracket-holders are employed, which are somewhat of cruciform and adjustable on theside frame or plow frame'. In Figure 8r wherein the bracketholder is shown' in perspective, it will be seen that the holder is fashioned with vertical guide walls 28 to form a that it also has angular, or horizontally extending clamp channel-flanges 29 to embrace the outer bar of theplow frame, to which it may be bolted in position.

At the inner side of the bracket holderv the walls 28 are extended to` form webs or flanges 30,V 30 having openings or apertures 3l. .Between these webs a rack wheel 32 is journaled with its shaft 33 in the apertures, and the rack wheel or pinion 32 is located in position to mesh with the racky plate or rack bar 34 embedded in a groove provided longitudinal face of the plow beam. The rack pinion 32 maybe retained in position by means of the pivoted pawl 35 which engages the teeth of the pinion in usual manner. Thus it will be apparent that the plow beam is supported in the vertical walls of the bracket-holder and may be moved therein by turning the shaft 33 of the pinion 32 to raise' or permit loweri ing of the beam, and in this manner adjust the depth of the cut of the plow 25. When so adjusted the plow beam and its plowrare maintained in proper .working position and fixed to the' plow frame, which in turn is rigidly supported from the car.

The inner plow 26 and its bea-m 24 are supported on a rock-beam 36, by a bracketholder 27 similar to the bracket holder 27 for the outer plow. ried at the longitudinal center of the plow frame and extends longitudinally of the plow frame, just above the latter. At its vends the rock beam is fashioned with a pair of trunnions or pins 38, which are journaled in bearings 39 atl the front and rear ends of the plow frame, and the rock beam with its attached plow beam and plow, as 24 26 respectively, may be turned in these bearings tc present the plow at various, angles to the groundy level as desired.- Thus'the plow 26 may be 'adjusted to angular position, and by means fofv thel rack wheels l40 and pawls 4l at" the ends of the rock beam,

This rock beam is carand for plowing or ditching x12,

the plow may be re l tained in posi-tion. work. As Abefore 4stated le-itherfof Ithe plows '25fand 26, or both ofthem maybe used if desired.`

F or making lateral cuts, or digging inthe sides ofa bank alongside-the track, special plow 'racks 42 and 42 are employed.` These racks are preferably-placed at the center of the ear vand extend transversely thereof, 'the notches k4`3fof` the racksfaeing in vopposite' directions toward` the sides of the car. The

`Vplow beam 44 is placed'in the 'desired plow rack, which is somewhat of` U-shapein Icross section, and the ltrunnion bar 45 lat the end of the' plow beam is engaged in a pair ofv notches`43. The plow-beam 44 carries -a plow at its'extreme outer rend, designedto.

cut `into theface ofa bank, and it will be seen that at its inner end, the plow beam is hinged 'by fits trunnionbar in the notchesl 43.-v Aniast 146, 'erected Abetween the two Y, 4plowbeam -guides or racks'42 42 and pro-,v

. vided with usual hoisting4 block vand .tackle may be utilized Vfor raising or lowering the transversely extending plow beam 44. One beam may be used ata selected side of the oar, or two Amay be used if desirable extending in opposite directions for cutting therv face of a bank, andv when not in use either or both of these beams may be turned up to inoperative position above the car deck, or`

riveted to the plow, from a horizontally lextending hinge rod 49.V 'The suspending bars are each fashioned with a suspending ear 50 on thejhinge rod 49, and a tension spring 5l coiled about-the hinge rod is Vdesignedr to swing the plow upwardly on the hinge rod 49 as a center to remove the plowA from working position. The hinge vrod 4is supported on a hinge pin 52, vertically disposed at the side of the car and swiveled in perforated ears or eye-bolts 53 fixed to the car frame. A diagonal brace v54 is swiveled through its collar 53 on thehinge pin, and

is connected to a collar 55 on the free end of the hinge rod. This the hinge rod, thev hinge pin and the diagonal brace form triangular plow frame which is swiveled or hinged on the side frame yof the car, so that the plow when not in usemay be turned upon its hinge rod, and the tri? angular frame swung around parallel with the side of the car carrying the plow `with e it where it will be out of the way. When extended for use, thekfront plow` may be braced from the side of the car bybrace' rods 55 as shown in Figure 1, which rods used, when it is desired to formy a ditch pressure from thefront as the plow moves forward, g 7 In Figure 1,

a pair of cranes or f derric'ks extend' fromv thev sidejof the ear to thejrear o-r innerside fof the plow, and hold it'a'gainst 56'. and`57yare shownv as erected` at the ends ofv the 4fiat. car,`whi'ch are designed'for u`s e. l in hoisting 'or 4lowering- :t'hesiloading mecha e nismy shown in dotted lines.v Aysc'o'opfS` is'desi'gne'd to gather" the ploweddifrt orfv soil which' is .received Ein the'fhopsper for hopper the dirt is'carried by. anV elevator `6() `receiver 59 at thefrear thereof. From.:the`

to the conveyer 761.vsupported alongsidethe dirt car 62 l which `iscOupled to. the, v"can shown in full linesxandcarrying the plow y Thus the plow or ditching 'wear equipment. and the ydirt or loading car may be pulled or Apushedjfbylalocomotive., the forward ear i i for `'the purpose iofexca'vating or` plowing the dirt, and the rear'car to loadthe ma# terial thereon, from.whence it may later be dumped.

while i have hewn @described fiieide wingsjor plow fra-mes for use at one side k of the car, it will-be understood' that the strucv:

ture of the duplex frames is the same, and

that one plow frame may be lowered tol` working position, vor both frames. may be both sides of the'traok. A 1 y i i Various `changes and modifications may atl be made'in v'the structures shownv and de#v y scribe, and other devices or 'accessories that may be necessary will of course be used,

but such changes and alterations will be within the scope of my claims and willmot depart .fromA the spirit Of my invention.'

Theseveral devices shown in the drawings 105V are adapted for co-operation in thework of formingditches, and some of the parts are r interchangeable, as for instance the boms orbea'ms 44 may be-'used to work at either side of the` track in widening cuts, and the boom or'booms may be stepped `back or forward transversely of the car, within ,the

length of the guides 42, andfraised or lowered at the same time by ycables and tackley or other hoisting mechanisminoluding the` Vmast 46 and Winches.

The'front plow 47 illustrated at one side of the car may also beutilized `at the opposite side thereof forthrowing dirt'out 1 from the endsof the ties of the `roadbed,"vv l and l it will be apparent that should the curved end'47 encounter an unusually long f tie, or otherjirregularity, the resiliencyy of the spring 51 will take up the shock andre-'- turn ther plow to proper position afterV passing the obstruction.

Having thusl fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to |`y'secure by Letters ,d

Patent i`s` Y 1.The combination with a supporting vehicle, of alongitudinally extending, khinged side frame and means on the side of thefcar for supporting said frame in workingposivtion, means .for raising and lowering said hinged frame, a 'bracket-holder longitudinally adjustable on said frame, and avertieally adjustable plow beam supported in said bracket-holden 1 2. The combinationwith a of' a `longitudinally extending side frame f having hingesv at' the side ofl'the .ear and means supported on saidoarior raising and f lowering said yfraine,.f1Xed brackets on the ear for `supperting said ranie vin working y position, alongitudinally adjustable bracket- '-holdeil on saidL frame, and' a plow beainy verticallyvv adjustable and supported in said rock bar, .bearings on saidfraine for said bar,n1eans fori holding said bar in adjusted position, and aplow supported roni'isaid roe'k bar. 1

4f. The combination with a` railway car and.- its hinged side plowjfralne*7 of a longirailway ear,y

. justed position.y f A 'tudinally extending roel; bar supported in said frame, al bracket-holder' iXed to said j rock bar, a plow .bea1n-supportedinrsaid bracket-holder, and aplowon the beam.

The combination withv the hinged plowf iraine or a rock bar having bearings therey in, means ior holding said rock` bar iny adjusted `position a braekeuholder ."iiXed.A to said rock bar and movable therewith, a plow 35 beam adjustable ,in saidv` brackepholden and n means for holding ,saidgplow beam..inzad-- 6. The combination with the .hinged .plow i.

frame, of aroel; bar havingqbearings therein and a pawlandratchet' for holding said bar in adjustedposltion, a bracketThOlder fixed to said rock bar -and niovabletherewith, a v

plow beam having. a rackbarand adjustably supported in said bracket -h'oldenagraek'- pinion journaled inV thevbraeletj-,holder ene.k kgagingsaid raolrbar, and .means for 'hold.v

ing'the pinion in adjusted position.,

In testimony 'Y whereof I have 'aifixed my signature. f' "f v i mima-JOHNSON. 

